The A84 autoroute is a major motorway in western France completed on 27 January 2003 to connect the cities of Rennes in Brittany with Caen in Lower Normandy. It is part of the Autoroute des Estuaires from Belgium to Spain, avoiding Paris.

A84 autoroute shield
A84 autoroute
Autoroute des Estuaires
Entrée A 84 Caen.JPG
Start of A84 at the Porte de Bretagne exit of the Périphérique Caen.
Route information
Part of E3 E46 E401
Length170 km (110 mi)
Existed2003–present
Major junctions
North endPériphérique Caen
Major intersections
South endRocade Rennes
Location
CountryFrance
Major citiesCaen
Rennes
Highway system
  • Roads in France

Characteristics

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The motorway, 170 km long, cost a total of 650 million. It is dual-carriageway both ways on its entire course and service areas are positioned at regular intervals. It is toll free.

The motorway was built with a special road surface to allow rain water to run off quickly, but it is ineffective with snow that often falls in large quantities in winter, so snowploughs are employed regularly. Motorway traffic radio 107.7 broadcasts A84 information specifically.

  • 2 × 2 carriageway
  • 170 km in length
  • Total cost : €650 000 000 (2003)
  • 3 speed camera zones
  • 5 service areas (Aires de service et repos):
    • l'aire du mont Saint-Michel (Total), Saint-Aubin-de-Terregatte
    • l'aire de la Baie, Braffais
    • l'aire de la vallée de la Vire (Shell), Gouvets
    • l'aire de Cahagnes, Cahagnes
    • l'aire de Saint-Jean des Essartiers, Saint-Jean-des-Essartiers

The highway is free throughout its entire length. The various governments have studied the concession of this highway, but the regional authorities of Brittany and Normandy have convinced the public authorities to build and manage this highway with public funds.

History

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  • 1979: Ministerial decision to upgrade the road between Caen and Avranches to dual carriageway.
  • 1987: Decision by the CIAT to connect Caen, Rennes and Nantes by motorway ensuring the continuity of the French motorway network.
  • 1994: The connections between Caen and Avranches and Avranches and Rennes are declared of public utility.
  • 27 January 2003: Opening of the last section of the A84 except the Rennes and Avranches bypasses.

Route

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Map of the A84.

List of junctions

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Junction number & name Northbound exits Southbound exits
  24 RN 136 RN 136
  25  RD 812, Thorigné-Fouillard
  26  RD 812 (RN 12), Liffré RD 812 (RN 12), Liffré
  27  RD 812 (RN 12), Liffré RD 812 (RN 12), Liffré
  28  RD 794, Saint-Aubin-du-Cormier RD 794, Saint-Aubin-du-Cormier
  La Chaîne / La Lande
  29  RN 12, Fougères RN 12, Fougères
  30  RD 155, Saint-Brice-en-Coglès RD 155, Saint-Brice-en-Coglès, Antrain
  Le Coglais
  31  RD 102, Coglès, Louvigné-du-Désert, Antrain RD 102, Coglès, Louvigné-du-Désert
  32  RD 30, Saint-James RD 30, Saint-James
  Le Mont Saint-Michel
  33  RN 176, Pontaubault, Ducey RN 176, Pontaubault, Ducey, Le Mont Saint-Michel
  34  RN 175, Pontaubault, Le Mont Saint-Michel
  35 
  36  RD 911, Avranches RD 911, Avranches
  La Baie du Mont Saint-Michel
  37  RD 924, Villedieu-les-Poêles RD 924, Villedieu-les-Poêles
  38  RD 999, Villedieu-les-Poêles RD 999, Villedieu-les-Poêles
  La vallée de la Vire-Gouvets
  39  RD 21, Tessy-sur-Vire RD 21, Tessy-sur-Vire
  40  RN 174 RN 174
  41  RD 53, Saint-Martin-des-Besaces RD 53, Saint-Martin-des-Besaces
  Saint-Jean-des-Essartiers
  42  RD 577, Coulvain RD 577, Coulvain
  43 Villers-Bocage  RD 30, Saint-James RD 30, Saint-James
  44 Villers-Bocage Nord  RN 175, Villers-Bocage
  45  RD 92, Tournay-sur-Odon RD 92, Tournay-sur-Odon
  46  RD 174 (RN 175), Noyers-Bocage, Missy RD 174 (RN 175), Noyers-Bocage, Missy
  47  RD 147A, Version
  48  RD 30, Saint-James RD 30, Saint-James
  49/9 RN 813, RN 175, Bretteville-sur-Odon, Caen RN 813, RN 175, Bretteville-sur-Odon, Caen

Future extensions

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The A84 is interrupted at Avranches. The bypass to the west of Avranches, by the RN 175 with two double lanes, has geometrical characteristics which do not allow the construction of motorway characteristics and status. An East motorway bypass for the A84 was therefore planned in the long term. The State bought 60 hectares of land and destroyed four houses along the route. However, the works are yet be launched. The land is still owned by the state.

The A84 is also to be extended to Nantes by upgrading the RN 137 dual-carriageway, thus creating a Caen-Rennes-Nantes route. This was abandoned, along with other projects of dual-carriageway upgrades in Brittany (RN 157 and RN 12 were planned to become A81 and RN 165 was planned to become A82).[1]

In addition at Rennes, the construction of a "south-east bypass" will make it possible to avoid the Rennes ring-road on this route. Construction was due to commence from 2021 but was abandoned.

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References

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  1. ^ "RN12 et RN165. Projet autoroutier abandonné". Le Télégramme. 13 October 2014.